The fact that TDP quit the NDA in 2018 is not a mistake, says ex-minister Ashok

The Telugu Desam Party’s quitting the NDA in 2018 was not a mistake, senior party leader and former Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju said.

The regional party rejoining the alliance (NDA) was justified as the BJP says it would do “something” for Andhra Pradesh, he added.

The scion of the Vizianagaram royal family said he was not retiring from politics but only chose not to contest the ongoing polls due to health reasons.

His daughter Aditi is contesting from the Vizianagaram Assembly seat against current YSR Congress legislator Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy.

Aditi is likely to face headwinds to some extent as former TDP MLA Meesala Geetha is contesting as an independent after she was denied a ticket by former Prime Minister N Chandrababu Naidu-led party.

“I don’t think it (TDP leaving the NDA in 2018) was a mistake. Because what had happened at the time (was that), there were certain commitments made in the legislation (AP Reorganization Act) that had to be fulfilled. Certain commitments were partially fulfilled, so this was all a bit impatient, probably at the pace of it,” Raju told PTI.

After quitting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in March 2018, the TDP also moved a no-confidence motion against the then NDA government in the Lok Sabha over the denial of “Special Category Status” to the remaining state of Andhra Pradesh . and a lot of other issues.

After a gap of six years, TDP returned to the NDA fold citing that the latter would come to power at the Center which would help the state in terms of development.

Raju said as many as eleven institutions like IIM and NIT and others were promised in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, for which land was allotted.

However, the people of the state had decided to appoint a “non-performing government and a transitional government” which would affect the progress of the institutions, he said, attacking the current YSR Congress government .

To a question why the TDP decided to join the NDA, Raju said that even though the UPA government had brought about the AP Reorganization Act in 2014, it could not implement it, while the BJP promised to continue cooperation for would expand the development of the state.

He lashed out at the YSRCP government and alleged that work on the upcoming Bhogapuram airport for Visakhapatnam was not progressing as quickly as it should.

He said the most satisfying thing in his political career was that the dynasty, from his ancestors to himself, was able to preserve Telugu culture and pride.

Vizianagaram, which was considered the cultural capital of Telugus, is home to the oldest music school and institutions for Sanskrit and oriental languages, he said.

First print: May 6, 2024 | 11:41 am IST